Skip to main content

Samsung trying to halt import of iPhones, iPads

apple v samsungSamsung has struck back. Following in the wake of Apple’s patent lawsuit, the South Korea-based company today filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking to block the import of the iPhone, iPad and iPod, according to Bloomberg.

The complaint escalates the legal dispute between the two companies which began in April when Apple filed a suit again Samsung accusing the company of copying the design of its mobile devices. Samsung quickly filed a countersuit claiming Apple’s iPhone and iPad had infringed on 10 of Samsung’s own wireless patents. Apple then countered Samsung’s countersuit by filing a civil complaint in Samsung’s home turf of South Korea. Samsung’s Galaxy smartphone lineup as well as its Galaxy Tab tablet computer are seen as direct competitors to Apple’s iPhone and iPad respectively. In a twist of irony, Samsung actually supplies parts to the very company it’s taking umbrage with; Samsung supplies the memory chips found in several Apple devices.

The legal battle between the two juggernauts continues and shows no signs of abating. Samsung’s complaint with the ITC , filed earlier this week, claims that Apple is infringing on five of the company’s patents. Samsung is seeking to have the ITC block imports of Apple’s most popular mobile devices into the U.S. But it’s not likely that the ITC will bow to Samsung’s wishes — at least not anytime in the near future.

Samsung’s complaint specifically takes issue with Apple’s use of mobile Web-integration; the way digital documents are viewed through a touchscreen-enabled device; the manner in which data packages are transmitted; and how the iOS devices store and play audio files.

If the ITC deems the complaint is worthy of its consideration, the case could be resolved within the next 15 to 18 months.

Editors' Recommendations

Aemon Malone
Former Digital Trends Contributor
3 reasons why I’ll actually use Anker’s new iPhone power bank
A person holding the Anker MagGo Power Bank.

Power banks are a necessary evil, and even if you don’t consider yourself a “power user” who's likely to drain a phone’s battery in less than a day, there will be times when one comes in handy. And when I am forced to carry one, I want it to be as helpful and versatile as possible.

I’ve been trying Anker’s MagGo Power Bank 10K -- meaning it has a 10,000mAh cell inside it -- and there are three reasons why I'm OK with it taking up valuable space in my bag.
It has a screen on it

Read more
Flash sale gets you this iPad Mini-sized Samsung tablet for $99
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite in the hands.

If even the best tablet deals still don’t mean you can afford an iPad Mini, how about a Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite instead? Usually priced at $159, it’s down to just $99 at Walmart right now and it’s perfect if the main thing you want is a small tablet for browsing online or watching occasional videos. If that sounds tempting, keep reading while we take you through what it has to offer.

Why you should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite won’t be featured among the best tablets around, but that isn’t to say that it’s not worth considering. It has an attractive 8.7-inch screen which is slightly larger than the iPad Mini's 8.3-inch display. It’s not as sharp but it’s just fine for watching YouTube videos or similar. If you want to read on the move, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is a good bet for that too.

Read more
Here’s how Apple could change your iPhone forever
An iPhone 15 Pro Max laying on its back, showing its home screen.

Over the past few months, Apple has released a steady stream of research papers detailing its work with generative AI. So far, Apple has been tight-lipped about what exactly is cooking in its research labs, while rumors circulate that Apple is in talks with Google to license its Gemini AI for iPhones.

But there have been a couple of teasers of what we can expect. In February, an Apple research paper detailed an open-source model called MLLM-Guided Image Editing (MGIE) that is capable of media editing using natural language instructions from users. Now, another research paper on Ferret UI has sent the AI community into a frenzy.

Read more